Pericles, Prince of Tyre

pavilion on deck, with a curtain before it; PERICLES
[p]within it, reclined on a couch. A barge lying
[p]beside the Tyrian vessel.
[p][Enter two Sailors, one belonging to the Tyrian]
[p]vessel, the other to the barge; to them HELICANUS]

Tyrian Sailor. [To the Sailor of Mytilene] Where is lord Helicanus?
he can resolve you.
2175O, here he is.
Sir, there's a barge put off from Mytilene,
And in it is Lysimachus the governor,
Who craves to come aboard. What is your will?

Helicanus. Gentlemen, there's some of worth would come aboard;
I pray ye, greet them fairly.
2185[The Gentlemen and the two Sailors descend, and go]on board the barge]
[Enter, from thence, LYSIMACHUS and Lords; with the]Gentlemen and the two Sailors]

Tyrian Sailor. Sir,
2190This is the man that can, in aught you would,
Resolve you.

First Lord. Sir,
We have a maid in Mytilene, I durst wager,
Would win some words of him.
2225

Lysimachus. 'Tis well bethought.
She questionless with her sweet harmony
And other chosen attractions, would allure,
And make a battery through his deafen'd parts,
Which now are midway stopp'd:
2230She is all happy as the fairest of all,
And, with her fellow maids is now upon
The leafy shelter that abuts against
The island's side.

[Whispers a Lord, who goes off in the barge of LYSIMACHUS]

Helicanus. Sure, all's effectless; yet nothing we'll omit
That bears recovery's name. But, since your kindness
We have stretch'd thus far, let us beseech you
That for our gold we may provision have,
Wherein we are not destitute for want,
2240But weary for the staleness.

Lysimachus. O, sir, a courtesy
Which if we should deny, the most just gods
For every graff would send a caterpillar,
And so afflict our province. Yet once more
2245Let me entreat to know at large the cause
Of your king's sorrow.

Helicanus. Sit, sir, I will recount it to you:
But, see, I am prevented.
[Re-enter, from the barge, Lord, with MARINA, and a]2250young Lady]

Lysimachus. O, here is
The lady that I sent for. Welcome, fair one!
Is't not a goodly presence?

Lysimachus. She's such a one, that, were I well assured
Came of a gentle kind and noble stock,
I'ld wish no better choice, and think me rarely wed.
Fair one, all goodness that consists in bounty
Expect even here, where is a kingly patient:
2260If that thy prosperous and artificial feat
Can draw him but to answer thee in aught,
Thy sacred physic shall receive such pay
As thy desires can wish.

Marina. Sir, I will use
2265My utmost skill in his recovery, Provided
That none but I and my companion maid
Be suffer'd to come near him.

Lysimachus. Come, let us leave her;
And the gods make her prosperous!
2270

Marina. I am a maid,
My lord, that ne'er before invited eyes,
But have been gazed on like a comet: she speaks,
My lord, that, may be, hath endured a grief
2280Might equal yours, if both were justly weigh'd.
Though wayward fortune did malign my state,
My derivation was from ancestors
Who stood equivalent with mighty kings:
But time hath rooted out my parentage,
2285And to the world and awkward casualties
Bound me in servitude.
[Aside]I will desist;
But there is something glows upon my cheek,
2290And whispers in mine ear, 'Go not till he speak.'

Pericles. My fortunes—parentage—good parentage—
To equal mine!—was it not thus? what say you?

Marina. I said, my lord, if you did know my parentage,
You would not do me violence.
2295

Pericles. I do think so. Pray you, turn your eyes upon me.
You are like something that—What country-woman?
Here of these shores?

Marina. No, nor of any shores:
Yet I was mortally brought forth, and am
2300No other than I appear.

Pericles. I am great with woe, and shall deliver weeping.
My dearest wife was like this maid, and such a one
My daughter might have been: my queen's square brows;
Her stature to an inch; as wand-like straight;
2305As silver-voiced; her eyes as jewel-like
And cased as richly; in pace another Juno;
Who starves the ears she feeds, and makes them hungry,
The more she gives them speech. Where do you live?

Marina. Where I am but a stranger: from the deck
2310You may discern the place.

Pericles. Where were you bred?
And how achieved you these endowments, which
You make more rich to owe?

Marina. If I should tell my history, it would seem
2315Like lies disdain'd in the reporting.

Pericles. Prithee, speak:
Falseness cannot come from thee; for thou look'st
Modest as Justice, and thou seem'st a palace
For the crown'd Truth to dwell in: I will
2320believe thee,
And make my senses credit thy relation
To points that seem impossible; for thou look'st
Like one I loved indeed. What were thy friends?
Didst thou not say, when I did push thee back—
2325Which was when I perceived thee—that thou camest
From good descending?

Marina. Some such thing
I said, and said no more but what my thoughts
Did warrant me was likely.
2335

Pericles. Tell thy story;
If thine consider'd prove the thousandth part
Of my endurance, thou art a man, and I
Have suffer'd like a girl: yet thou dost look
Like Patience gazing on kings' graves, and smiling
2340Extremity out of act. What were thy friends?
How lost thou them? Thy name, my most kind virgin?
Recount, I do beseech thee: come, sit by me.

Marina. My mother was the daughter of a king;
Who died the minute I was born,
As my good nurse Lychorida hath oft
2370Deliver'd weeping.

Pericles. O, stop there a little!
[Aside]This is the rarest dream that e'er dull sleep
Did mock sad fools withal: this cannot be:
2375My daughter's buried. Well: where were you bred?
I'll hear you more, to the bottom of your story,
And never interrupt you.

Pericles. I will believe you by the syllable
2380Of what you shall deliver. Yet, give me leave:
How came you in these parts? where were you bred?

Marina. The king my father did in Tarsus leave me;
Till cruel Cleon, with his wicked wife,
Did seek to murder me: and having woo'd
2385A villain to attempt it, who having drawn to do't,
A crew of pirates came and rescued me;
Brought me to Mytilene. But, good sir,
Whither will you have me? Why do you weep?
It may be,
2390You think me an impostor: no, good faith;
I am the daughter to King Pericles,
If good King Pericles be.

Pericles. Thou art a grave and noble counsellor,
Most wise in general: tell me, if thou canst,
What this maid is, or what is like to be,
That thus hath made me weep?

Helicanus. I know not; but
2400Here is the regent, sir, of Mytilene
Speaks nobly of her.

Lysimachus. She would never tell
Her parentage; being demanded that,
She would sit still and weep.
2405

Pericles. O Helicanus, strike me, honour'd sir;
Give me a gash, put me to present pain;
Lest this great sea of joys rushing upon me
O'erbear the shores of my mortality,
And drown me with their sweetness. O, come hither,
2410Thou that beget'st him that did thee beget;
Thou that wast born at sea, buried at Tarsus,
And found at sea again! O Helicanus,
Down on thy knees, thank the holy gods as loud
As thunder threatens us: this is Marina.
2415What was thy mother's name? tell me but that,
For truth can never be confirm'd enough,
Though doubts did ever sleep.

Pericles. I am Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now
My drown'd queen's name, as in the rest you said
Thou hast been godlike perfect,
The heir of kingdoms and another like
To Pericles thy father.
2425

Marina. Is it no more to be your daughter than
To say my mother's name was Thaisa?
Thaisa was my mother, who did end
The minute I began.

Pericles. Now, blessing on thee! rise; thou art my child.
2430Give me fresh garments. Mine own, Helicanus;
She is not dead at Tarsus, as she should have been,
By savage Cleon: she shall tell thee all;
When thou shalt kneel, and justify in knowledge
She is thy very princess. Who is this?
2435

Helicanus. Sir, 'tis the governor of Mytilene,
Who, hearing of your melancholy state,
Did come to see you.

Lysimachus. A pillow for his head:
So, leave him all. Well, my companion friends,
If this but answer to my just belief,
I'll well remember you.

[Exeunt all but PERICLES]

[DIANA appears to PERICLES as in a vision]

Diana. My temple stands in Ephesus: hie thee thither,
And do upon mine altar sacrifice.
There, when my maiden priests are met together,
Before the people all,
2465Reveal how thou at sea didst lose thy wife:
To mourn thy crosses, with thy daughter's, call
And give them repetition to the life.
Or perform my bidding, or thou livest in woe;
Do it, and happy; by my silver bow!
2470Awake, and tell thy dream.

Pericles. My purpose was for Tarsus, there to strike
The inhospitable Cleon; but I am
For other service first: toward Ephesus
Turn our blown sails; eftsoons I'll tell thee why.
2480[To LYSIMACHUS]Shall we refresh us, sir, upon your shore,
And give you gold for such provision
As our intents will need?

Lysimachus. Sir,
2485With all my heart; and, when you come ashore,
I have another suit.

Pericles. You shall prevail,
Were it to woo my daughter; for it seems
You have been noble towards her.
2490